Pete- Senior Portraits- Western style!!!

jeffreaux2

Yesterday afternoon I spent an hour with Pete and Dusty. Pete is graduating high school in May, and Dusty is...well ...Dusty!

I have not done much photography that included animals, and never horses other than a few landscape style photos so this was a huge change for me. Pete and Dusty( thank God!!!) behaved themselves very well. Being unfamiliar with horses, I wasn't sure how Dusty would react to the sound of the camera or the flash. I was assured though that since he is ridden in rodeo arenas regularly he is very used to camera flashes. In the end all my worries were for nothing. He was as calm and responsive to Pete's guidance as one could expect.

I have a ways to go to finish editing, and I have a short deadline on this set as graduation is looming......but....here are a few samples.

Hope you enjoy!!!

1-



2-


3-


4-


5-


6-


7-

Agnieszka

You're a senior-portrait guru, got to say!! .... :whew Wonderful photos. LOVE the last one!!! If anything, I think the 2nd one is a too tight crop. But boy do I envy you for those shots!!

Frog Lady

for Sr. portraits, love the 1st and I really like #5 Love the lines of the horse, the calm bkgd, the lighting, just everything.

While I don't think of the last one as a Sr. portrait, I can imagine that it'll end up being very special to Pete as it shows the freedom of being able to just ride off. Nicely done.

and I have to say, even though I'm mostly a lurker in the people section, I always make a point of checking out your sr. portraits and am rarely disappointed.

C.

jeffreaux2

Agnieszka wrote:

You're a senior-portrait guru, got to say!! .... :whew Wonderful photos. LOVE the last one!!! If anything, I think the 2nd one is a too tight crop. But boy do I envy you for those shots!!

Oh sheesh!!!....I doubt I qualify as a "guru" of anything, but I gratefully accept your compliment. On #2....I like to grab some "frame-filled" shots whenever i am photographing people for whatever purpose. I think this one could actually be tighter, although I am not completely happy with the angle.

The last shot? There is so much that is technically wrong about it....yet somehow the subject matter still makes it a keeper. I shot about 20 frames of him galloping into my general direction...coming down the river bank. I had left my monopod about a mile away at my truck. On his last trip past me I swapped to jpeg capture rather than RAW plus jpeg. My camera has to stop and digest things now and then when shooting RAW+jpeg. Anyway I did it so I could keep firing as he rode past. I was glad that this was on that memory card when I uploaded. Very glad!!!

Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated.

jeffreaux2

Frog Lady wrote:

for Sr. portraits, love the 1st and I really like #5 Love the lines of the horse, the calm bkgd, the lighting, just everything.

While I don't think of the last one as a Sr. portrait, I can imagine that it'll end up being very special to Pete as it shows the freedom of being able to just ride off. Nicely done.

and I have to say, even though I'm mostly a lurker in the people section, I always make a point of checking out your sr. portraits and am rarely disappointed.

C.

Hi FL!!! Thanks for looking!

One of the "in" things to do for Sr portraits is a shot of them around RR tracks. Of these I have seen plenty...some of my own as well...of the kids walking away from the camera down the tracks. I think that the last shot here will serve that purpose for Pete. I am hoping so anyway!!!:D

Thanks for complimenting my work. I have many tools at my disposal for my photography, but I feel that confidence....sometimes...is outside my grasp!

Have a great weekend!!

Scott_Quier

I don't know why, but I can't see the photos. I can see photos in other posts and I can access your web-site and see pictures there (can't quickly find these though).

jeffreaux2

Scott_Quier wrote:

I don't know why, but I can't see the photos. I can see photos in other posts and I can access your web-site and see pictures there (can't quickly find these though).

Well I just learned something new then....

Photos in "hidden" galleries show fine in Dgrin. I had checked "hide photo" on these in the public gallery thinking they would work the same as a "hidden " gallery, but.... it REALLY hides them. Sorry 'bout that!

If yoy STILL can't see them....or if you CAN see them.....either way...let me know...PLEASE!!!!

Scott_Quier

I like #1 and #2 - these are good, standard portraits. I really like how tight you got on #2 - this is one that a mother and/or sweetheart is going to love (I think).

The cream of the crop is #5 - Very Very Nice!

Oh, BTW, I'm sure you got the hint - I can see them now!

evoryware

I like #7 the most! #4 isn't showing.

jayegirl

Great job as always. I always look forward to your pictures!

As for the horses, I stumbled across another photographer whose pictures I enjoy and he has a whole equine section. http://jarrettgaza.com/

joshhuntnm

Great job with all of them.

Love the hair lights in #1, and to some degree 2

Like how you seem to have gotten some light under the hat in 3

The rest the lighting look great as well, outdoors where you can't set up umbrellas and light boxes.

Geat job!

len20

Agnieszka wrote:

But boy do I envy you for those shots!!

I envy those abs... to be 18 again.

saurora

1, 5 & 7 with 5 being my favorite. This is probably my favorite set I've seen you do, and you do them quite well! I think they are particularly good for a male subject, as they often appear ill at ease in front of the camera. He looks very at relaxed. Great job!!!

Shudderz

jeffreaux2 wrote:

On #2....I think this one could actually be tighter, although I am not completely happy with the angle.

I wonder if it's not the angle but the distortion that is keeping you from being completely happy with it. How close were you to your subject? It appears you may have been a tad too close and he's ended up with an unusually large head.

Other than that.....the rest of them are great. Well Done! I'm sure he's pleased!

CTUphoto

Wow!

saurora wrote:

1, 5 & 7 with 5 being my favorite. This is probably my favorite set I've seen you do, and you do them quite well! I think they are particularly good for a male subject, as they often appear ill at ease in front of the camera. He looks very at relaxed. Great job!!!

Jeff, as always dude, outstanding work!! I would agree with Saurora, above, in that you did particularly well here with the male model. You captured what I would imagine is the very essence of this guy; a little rough and tussled (his hair!); more than a pinch of "country" with the horse; and most importantly, all of the shots come across as 100% manly (they scream MANLINESS!). 1, 2, 5, and 7 are by far my fav's. Seriously, fantastic work!!

-JB

jeffreaux2

Scott_Quier wrote:

I like #1 and #2 - these are good, standard portraits. I really like how tight you got on #2 - this is one that a mother and/or sweetheart is going to love (I think).

The cream of the crop is #5 - Very Very Nice!

Oh, BTW, I'm sure you got the hint - I can see them now!

I got the hint!!! Thanks, and thanks also for commenting!!

jeffreaux2

jayegirl wrote:

Great job as always. I always look forward to your pictures!

As for the horses, I stumbled across another photographer whose pictures I enjoy and he has a whole equine section. http://jarrettgaza.com/

That is very flattering, thank you!!:D

jeffreaux2

joshhuntnm wrote:

Great job with all of them.

Love the hair lights in #1, and to some degree 2

Like how you seem to have gotten some light under the hat in 3

The rest the lighting look great as well, outdoors where you can't set up umbrellas and light boxes.

Geat job!

Thanks Josh....actually you can set up umbrellas and lightboxes outside....I see it done regularly, but don't do it myself.(yet:D ) The backlighting on the beach were awesome(1 and 2).

jeffreaux2

saurora wrote:

1, 5 & 7 with 5 being my favorite. This is probably my favorite set I've seen you do, and you do them quite well! I think they are particularly good for a male subject, as they often appear ill at ease in front of the camera. He looks very at relaxed. Great job!!!

Ahhhh.......wanna see my head swell?

Thank you so much not only for looking, but for your kind comments. I admit it....he was at ease...I....wasn't so much at ease. We were in his element and not mine!!!:D

Thanks!!!!

jeffreaux2

Shudderz wrote:

I wonder if it's not the angle but the distortion that is keeping you from being completely happy with it. How close were you to your subject? It appears you may have been a tad too close and he's ended up with an unusually large head.

Other than that.....the rest of them are great. Well Done! I'm sure he's pleased!

Was very close, but the distortion still doesn't bug me.....looking straight down at him does to some degree. His mom absolutely loved it. 1 and 2 actually.


Thanks for commenting!!

evoryware

now that I can see it, 4 is my second favorite!

jeffreaux2

CTUphoto wrote:

Jeff, as always dude, outstanding work!! I would agree with Saurora, above, in that you did particularly well here with the male model. You captured what I would imagine is the very essence of this guy; a little rough and tussled (his hair!); more than a pinch of "country" with the horse; and most importantly, all of the shots come across as 100% manly (they scream MANLINESS!). 1, 2, 5, and 7 are by far my fav's. Seriously, fantastic work!!

-JB

To be honest, he wasn't so sure about riding wearing only jeans. I just didn't see the fit with riding through a stream in dress boots and belt buckle. I was assured that he rides shirtless often. Getting him to leave the boots took some talking into.

I appreciate your kind comments. I don't often get a guy in front of the camera. They require much more direction than girls. He did a great job!!

jeffreaux2

evoryware wrote:

now that I can see it, 4 is my second favorite!

There ya go!!

Thanks!

eL eSs Vee

A great series, Jeff, with special nods to 1, 3, 5 and 7.

jeffreaux2

eL eSs Vee wrote:

A great series, Jeff, with special nods to 1, 3, 5 and 7.

I appreciate that Lee. Thanks!!!:D

Elaine

Just a wonderul set, Jeff! Very special shots with the horse. I can see why the mom would love those first two! He looks very relaxed and "himself." That last one with the galloping horse is so unique and with really lovely light. Very nicely done, again!

Rhinotherunt

These are great!!! Him and the horse makes these unique! Like the motion in the one that he is riding the horse away from camera.

urbanaries

Amazing set, Jeff. I love #2, #4, and mostly #7. Brings to mind the adage that there is no such thing as correct exposure, there is only the creatively correct one. Accident or no, this one simply works!

Fantastic job, the standouts of this set are some of your finest work to date. 4 especially feels very natural, relaxed, un-staged....simply a fine portrait of a fine looking young man.

Congrats!!!!

CassisP

Oooooohh I like I like.... (especialy the riding ones... Beautiful horse.)

this is kinda gonna be my idea for Senior portraits...

Rhuarc

Love them all, but #5 and #7 really jump out! Great work!

jeffreaux2

Elaine wrote:

Just a wonderul set, Jeff! Very special shots with the horse. I can see why the mom would love those first two! He looks very relaxed and "himself." That last one with the galloping horse is so unique and with really lovely light. Very nicely done, again!

I thought of you actually when I first saw it on my monitor. I remembered you playing around with backlight and flasre awhile back. I said to myself...."Elaine is gonna like this"!!!

Thanks for looking !